Elinor’s POV
He did not escort me to my room after our breakfast together, which was actually okay with me. It gave me a chance to think about the time we had spent together.
Did he still make me afraid? A little, if I were being honest. His demeanor was still intimidating, especially since I had spent so much time fearing him, fearing the name and title that he had, The Beast. The most feared Emperor who ever lived.
That same Emperor had spoken to me over breakfast, and as much of a mysterious person he was, I found gentleness hiding inside him.
Walking into my room, I recalled something my elder brother, Joniah, once told me.
‘Love comes at a sacrifice.’
We were still children back then when we talked about how we would have to give up something for Pedron ultimately. So, had he known everything from the beginning?
Could he have known that when the time came, my parents would choose me to be the sacrificial lamb?
I wasn’t even heir to the throne and yet, I had been the one who had to step up and be a saviour to my people. And I had no idea if I could ever forgive my family for doing that to me.
I sighed again and walked away from the window to my bed. This heaviness throughout my life made me tired. Alas, sleep eluded me. Memories of the moment with the Emperor still lingered in my mind.
The Beast.
The one whom everyone feared. The one whom up until that moment I dreaded his very existence. But, I managed to eat with him, and still had my head. In fact, somehow I enjoyed having a meal with him. And the very fact still left me bewildered.
So, did that mean all those rumors were false?
I tossed in my bed, suddenly unsure. He didn’t kill me, but I couldn't forget the glint in his eyes, neither had I missed the great respect and undercurrents of fear that some of the guards had excluded in his presence.
But there was something about the Emperor, something that made me know that I wouldn’t entirely detest the idea of another moment with him.
•~•
I slept longer than I had intended and was awoken by a knock on the door. I opened my eyes a bit confused and stared up at the ceiling, wishing whoever it was would come back later, only to turn to the door when the knock came again.
“Come in,” I managed to call out, my voice sounding cracked with sleep to my own ears.
for all it was worth, what I truly wanted to say was, ‘Go away, please come back.’
But I did not believe that I would still have my head in place if I uttered such.
Claire peeked inside and smiled when she saw me before finally coming through.
“Excuse me, your Majesty. woke you up, didn’t I?” she asked, and I smiled up at her, sleep ridden.
“It's fine,” I said, sitting up, “What’s going on?”
“Well, the thing is, it’s lunchtime. And both you and the Emperor are supposed to have it together,” she said gently, as though she was delivering sensitive news. It took me a moment to register what she had just said.
“Lunch, you say?” I ran my hand through my hair.
But it had just been breakfast.
“Yes, my Lady.”
“And with the Emperor?”
“Yes, Milady.” And then she lit up. “And you know what’s more? It gets to be outside, and you know just how good the weather is today…”
I didn’t have any words, so I just kept looking at her.
“Outside?” I finally said, “Like a picnic?” And she nodded.
I shook my head and got up from the bed, stretching when I stood. “You and I were meant to have a picnic today. What made him decide to have one with me?”
The smile that came across her face had me groaning internally.
“For the love of all that is good. What did you do, Claire?” She made a face and moved her head from side to side.
“Oh, Lady Elinor, don’t get mad. You look mad.”
“I’m not mad,” I said quietly, and waited for her to speak. I wasn’t lying. I was not mad, I was on the brink of seething. Not quite there yet.
“Oh, but you’re getting there. You see, the Emperor, he spotted me on the way to the kitchen and called me to the side, and oh, I was terrified. For just an instant, just a moment.” I folded my arms and could imagine the moment which she spoke of.
I had those moments when it came to the Emperor, and if what she said about the picnic was true, then I was sure to have those moments in a good time to come.
But then, why did he want me to have lunch with him? Hadn’t we already had breakfast together?
“And then he said, ‘Are you not the one I saw with the lady this morning?’ And oh, Lady Elinor! I froze! Right there and then, I turned into stone because he had been speaking to me. I was aware of that.”
I had to force myself not to smile. Fenrir the Emperor had managed to garner one hell of a reputation.
“And so, I nod dramatically and begin spilling my guts on how I was just showing you the grounds and how you were interested in the vineyard and would love to have a picnic since the weather was so good. And then his expression changed, and he asked if I really thought you would want a picnic.”
I placed my fingers on the bridge of my nose. “With you, Claire. I wanted a picnic with you,” I said, feeling strained, and sat on the bed.
“Oh, but I didn’t think to add that part, and he made sure lunch would be arranged outside, and then I came to get you.”
I couldn’t smile anymore, not when I had heard the entire tale.
“Oh, but are you angry, Lady Elinor?”
I shook my head no and laid my back against the bed.
I wasn’t angry. I wasn’t even seething anymore.
I turned to her and met her eyes.
“I am petrified.”